Y9 Physics - Environmental impacts of energy resources

Coal

high CO₂ emissions+particulates, sulphur dioxide pollution (acid rain), habitat destruction

Oil

CO₂ + particulates, oil spills, habitat disruption

Natural Gas

lower CO₂ but still polluting, methane leaks, fracking impacts

Nuclear

no CO₂ during operation, radioactive waste, accident contamination risk

Wind

no emissions, bird/bat deaths, visual/noise pollution

Solar

no emissions during use, large land use, toxic manufacturing materials

Hydroelectric

flooding habitats, alters river flow, no emissions

Tidal

no emissions, marine ecosystem impact, changes tidal patterns

Wave

no emissions, marine ecosystem impact, visual impact

Geothermal

low emissions, minimal land use, mineral contamination

Biomass

CO₂ released, can be carbon‑neutral, air pollutio

Methane leaks (methane is a … so leaks trap … than … and accelerate …)

methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, so leaks trap far more heat than CO₂ and accelerate climate change

Fracking impacts ((fracking can cause …, contaminate …, and damage …)

fracking can cause small earthquakes, contaminate groundwater, and damage local ecosystems

Radioactive waste (… for thousands of years, requires …, and can cause … if leaked)

remains dangerous for thousands of years, requires secure storage, and can cause severe contamination if leaked

Altering river flow (disrupts…m changes …m damages ..)

disrupts fish migration, changes water temperature, and damages river ecosystems

Mineral contamination (geothermal … can …, polluting … and harming …)

geothermal fluids can bring harmful minerals to the surface, polluting water supplies and harming wildlife